Treadle switch



W. C. PUTNAM -TREADLE SWITCH April 29, 1935.

Filed- Feb. 15, 1930 pow, T m m Patented Apr. 1935 I I UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE TBEADLE SWITCH 7 Warren 0. Putnam, Lea Angeles, Calif. Application February 15, 1930, Serial No. 428,669

a 8 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) 1 a My invention relates to treadle switches, and at that point with a flat connecting bridge I2 more particularly a treadle switch adapted to provided for the purpose of furnishing vertical be used in-conjunction with a traillc signal to resupport at that point. The flanges I may be ceive actuations from the passage of vehicles provided with supporting webs." at spaced in- 5 thereover, the wheels of which contact the tervals in the length of the structure resting 5 treadle. against the side wall members 0. It is intended An object of my invention is to provide a that thisentire structurebe constructed of metal switch which maybe placed in or on the road suitable to meet extreme weather conditions, surface in position to be contacted by the wheel preferably cast in a mold. and may be of any of a vehicle passing thereover, and in which the length required. 10 contact elements will be closed upon pressure The side walls 8 together with the lower supbeing applied at any point in the length of the porting member I form a recess I4, provided for switch. the purpose of receiving and supporting a re- An object of nrv invention is to provide a silient member II being of a substantially angul5 switch of such simple and durable construction lar shape to conform to the angular shape of the that it may be used in or on roads or streets of walls of the recess ll. The resilient member I5 any character of surface, may be used-under the is composed preferably of rubber and has a bimost severe conditions of traffic and weight, and furcated lower portion comprising two spaced which will not be affected by any form of weather, angularly related sections II particularly designed atmospheric conditions,- temperature, water, to closely contact the inner faces of the wall 20 snow, and only by the formation of ice thereover members 6 and the lower supporting member I, too thick to transmit pressure to the switch eleand the bridge I2. merits. a The resilient member II is further provided with An object of my invention is to provide an a convex surface portion Ila having a reinforceconomical switch for adaptation to aconvening element Il incorporated erein and is de- 25 I tional signaling system for highway intersecsigned to contact the side w 0 at their upper tions, and which may readily be adapted for use edges I to prevent entrance of dirt or water at in conjunction with garage door opening mechthat point. Expansion movement of the resilient anism, and such other electrical apparatus as member I 5 in a direction crossways to its length,

0 may be operated by a switch of this character. and at a point opposite its center is provided a To the above and other purposes which may by the channels I! which run the length of the hereinafter appear my invention consists in the resilient member II and P i the recesses novel constructio arrangement and combine-,- for the expansion of the adjoining portion of the tion of parts as hereinafter fully, clearly and resilient member ther t 85 concisely described, definitely pointed out in my The resilient member II is further provided claims and illustrated by the accompanying with a channel 20 at approximately the center of drawing inwhichthe resilient member II and adapted to reside Fig. 1 is a view in cross section of the treadle directly above the bridge I 2. The channel 211s switch. provided for the purpose of receiving an electric 0 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the switch cable 2| and supporting it in a position treadle switch, parts being broken way to disto receive pres ppl to the convex 11 close portions otherwise hidden. Ito of the resilient member II; the bridge I2 is The treadle switch comprises a supporting provided forthe purpose of supporting the remember I, having two flat flanges I at either silient member II at the central point and conside adapted to be set into the pavement of a sequ ntLV the c b 1| t0 r v Pressure 9- 45 street so that the upper surface 4 will be level p d o the surface the recesses I! are pr with the pavement as indicated at 5. The flanges vided for the purp 0 a wins h n al P I- [are joined to spaced side wall members 6 n 0 th resilient member to expend si which are inclined at a slight angle to each other, ways to effect o of essu to the surbeing closer together at their upper edges 1 than face Ila in a downward direction to the switch so at their lower edges 8, at which point they are cable 2i as supported by the bridge I2. joined to anangular lower supporting member The resilient member II is supp nd rea, composed of two inclined sections III and II, tained in the supporting structure 2 by means of having their highest point at approximately th the angularrelation of the walls I together with center ofthesupporting member Landprovided the 1 17 supp member I Th re i ent 5e member I 5, as recited, is designed to be composed preferably of rubber, to be made in a mold, and in any length desired for the purpose required. The reinforcing element I! may be of any desired material, such as the conventional fabric filler used in the construction of automobile tires.

The electric switch cable 2| comprises an inner metallic core 22 having a strip 23 of insulating material wound thereover in spaced spiral relation, and over the strip 23 are spirally wound a plurality of flexible wires 24, the whole covered with a suitable insulating covering 25, preferably moisture and acid proof. The core 22 is connected at one end to one side of an electric circuit (not shown) and the-wires 24 connected to the other side of the same circuit. Contact between the core 22 and the wires 24 is made at substantially any point in the length of the cable upon sufflcient pressure being applied thereto to bring the wires 24 into contact with the core 22 in the spaces provided by the spaced spirally wound strip 23, which normally maintains the wires 24 and the core 22 in spaced relation.

In this invention I have provided means for closing an electrical circuit by pressure, prefera'bly by the weight of an automobile wheel passing over the switch, and to this end I have provided the supporting structure 2 which is adapted to receive and support the resilient member I5 in which the electric switch cable 2| is maintained in a position to receive the pressure applied from an outside source. Pressure applied to the con vex surface portion |5a compresses the resilient member I5, which by means of the angular relation of the supporting member 2, the expansion recesses l9 and the, bridge |2, is designed to concentrate the pressure transmitted at the central point or the switch cable 2|.

Certain modifications and alterations will readily be apparent to one versed in the art in adapting the invention to use under the various conditions necessary to road trafllc, the showing herein being the form deemed preferable at present, and these modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a treadle switch an electric switch cable, a resilient element containing said cable, and a supporting structure with lateral flanges, sides and a bottom structure, adapted to be sunk in a street with the said flanges flush with the adjoining street surface,-said structure having an open top to receive the said resilient element; and a central supporting portion rising from said bottom structure for the support of the said resilient element and cable.

2. A treadle switch comprising a resilient member having a convex surface, a bifurcated lower section and a central channel wherein is adapted to be inserted an electric switch cable; a supporting structure having lateral flanges, relatively outwardly sloping sides, and a base section formed with an upwardly extending angular member adapted to fit and support said bifurcated lower section of said resilient member.

3. A treadle switch comprising a strip of flexible and resilient material, forming in cross-section, substantially, an irregular, concavo-convex, hexagon, rectilinear, except for its convex side which is curved, and except for having in each of opposite equilateral rectilinear sides, adjacent their Joinder with the curvilinear side of said sectional contour, indentations each forming, substantially, the segment of a circle and representing the cross-sectional configurations of longitudinal grooves of substantially equal dimensions extending the length of said strip; a longitudinal bore through said strip, said bore being substantially equidistant from said oppositely grooved sides and adjacent to a comparatively short rectilinear line of said sectional contour marking its points of the greatest concavity; a receptacle for said strip, of rigid material and interiorly formed to snugly fit the outer substantially straight-lined contour of said strip, and an electric switch-cable extending through said bore.

4. A treadle switchcomprising a strip of flexible and resilient material forming in cross-section, substantially, irregular, concavo-convex, polygon having one side of said sectional contour convexly curvilinear, and having its oppositely disposed sides connecting with said convex side,

mutilated by the cross-sectional areas of oppositely disposed, longitudinal grooves in said strip, a longitudinal bore extending through said strip and perforating said cross-sectional contour at a point between those of its greatest concavity and greatest convexity, a receptacle'of rigid material for said strip, interiorly formed to snugly fit all except the convex line of said contour, and except those of the grooves of said strip, an electric switch cable extending through said bore.

5. A treadle switch comprising a strip of flexible and resilient material, forming in cross-section, substantially, an irregular, concavo-convex, polygon, except for having two of its oppositely disposed sides mutilated by the cross-sectional areas of oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves in said strip; a longitudinal bore extending through said strip and perforating the plane of said cross-sectional contour adjacent its point of gr;atest concavity; a receptacle of rigid material for said strip, interiorly formed to snugly fit all except the convex line of its contour and those of said grooves, and an electric switch cable extending through said bore.

6. A treadle switch comprising a strip of flexible and resilient material, having, throughout its length, its upper surface convex and its lower surface reentrant, and having grooves in its oppositely disposed sides; a rigid sheath inclosing all but the upper surface of said strip, and conforming to its contour, except for the inner surfaces of said grooves, which are maintained unobstructed, and a longitudinally extending channel through said strip spaced therein adjacent points of greatest reentrance of its lower surface.

WARREN c. PUINAM. 

